A lovely day. As there was not much doing on this which is reckoned a holiday I though I would take advantage of it to execute an intention I have had for months without finding the leisure to execute it. This was a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in Great George Street. It is a collection which has been very lately commenced under the authority of the Government. As yet it is not large, and it is not arranged with any regard to method, but there are many single portraits of great interest. There is Chandos Shakespeare, which has some resemblance to the face on his monument in81 the Church; also the Fraser Tytler portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots which is very curious, though not so pretty as that we saw at Oxford. Yet there is enough to show that her fame may have been merited. There is an admirable portrait of Nelly Geoyn, whose claim to admission in such a collection can fairly be questioned. Of men I observed a good many with whose faces I had become familiar in the engravings made of them. One of Ireton, Cromwell’s son in law, very marked. A good one of William Wyndham. One of Thomas Hobbes, and several of authors and actors. Chronologically arranged with some enlargement of subjects this would make a highly important institution. I became fatigued and returned home. The streets were thronged with women and children, and the parks were full of boys and girls playing ball. I have seen no such gala day since I came here. On my reaching home I discovered that I had been wanted. A telegram had come from Liverpool announcing that a rescue had been made of the Emily St Pierre, a vessel seized off Charleston for attempting to break the blockade, and she had been brought into Liverpool. The Consul wanted to know what to do with the Men. I telegraphed to him to have their depositions taken, and sent immediately. Of course I must make a representation to government, and here is another cause of offence. added to the rest. The ministry will evade the request if possible. We had a telegram announcing important news of a severe battle at Corinth in which we were at last successful, and of the capture of Island No 10 in the Mississippi without the loss of a man. God be praised, but let us rejoice with trembling. I await every arrival with profound anxiety. Mr H. T. Parker came in to hear of it, and Mr Parkes afterwards. Just then arrived Mrs Adams and the family from Paris. I was glad to have them come back, and yet my mind was so suddenly overclouded with anxiety that I could hardly manifest it with much glee. We dined late and after that I was busy writing.82